JPH08152401A - Near infrared analyzer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To execute near infrared analysis in an environment where condensation does not occur even when temperature of farm product is fluctuated after processing. CONSTITUTION: In the near infrared analyzer, a sample is irradiated with a near infrared light from a light source, then a chemical component value or a physical characteristic value of the sample is measured based on an absorbance of an optical quantity. A cooling means for cooling a sample to be thrown into a sample cell is provided thereto. For example, a hopper 15' by which the sample is thrown to a detection section unit 13 of the near infrared analyzer is constituted of a double plate-structure and an inner side of the hopper 15' is blown by driving a cooling fan 43 so that the sample grain is blown through a funnel plate 40 of a permeability material.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a near infrared analyzer, which can be used for the internal quality of agricultural products such as rice grains and fruits and other foods.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in measuring the internal quality of rice grains, when white rice is put into a sample cell of a near-infrared analyzer and its internal components are measured, brown rice as a sample is treated with rice. Immediately after that, the rice is turned into white rice and supplied to the sample cell. However,
As described above, when the rice polishing process is performed immediately before, the temperature of the sample itself rises and becomes higher than the outside air temperature, and the sample cell is charged as it is, so that dew condensation occurs on the glass portion of the cell.

[0003]

The present invention solves the above-mentioned drawbacks and prevents dew condensation. The sample is irradiated with near infrared light from the light source, and the absorbance of the amount of light is used to determine the chemical component value of the sample. And for measuring physical property values,
The configuration of the near-infrared analyzer is provided with cooling means for cooling the sample to be put into the sample cell.

For the same purpose, a sample is irradiated with near-infrared light from a light source and the chemical component value or physical characteristic value of the sample is measured from the absorbance of the amount of light. The near-infrared analysis device is configured so that a heating air supply unit is provided so that the temperature near the cell becomes higher than the outside air temperature.

[0005]

In the pretreatment process, even if the sample itself is heated, the cooling means or the heating means for the temperature of the surrounding environment is provided. The described drawbacks can be eliminated.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The figure shows the outline of the grain quality measuring device provided in the brown rice shipping section of the grain joint drying and preparation facility and the rice grain inspection at the brown rice distribution stage. Below the hopper 1 for receiving the brown rice sample, the distribution device 2 is seen. It is provided. The distribution device 2 has a structure in which the brown rice flowing down from the hopper 1 is divided into three parts, and the same sample can be distributed to the temporary storage tanks 3a, 3b, 3c which are on the lower side thereof.

The temporary storage tanks 3a, 3b, 3c store the appearance quality measuring means 5 in the storage tank 3a and the internal quality measuring means 6 in the storage tank 3b via the delivery valves 4a, 4b, 4c, respectively. The whitening means 7 is seen in the tank 3c. Excessive grain discharge channels 4'a, 4'b, 4'c are connected to the delivery valves 4a, 4b, 4c, respectively. Of these, the appearance quality measuring means 5 receives one grain of grain and supplies it to the rotating disk 5a, and while inputting the appearance information to the control section 8 by the optical detection means of transmission and reflection, for each grain. It is configured to judge the quality such as good brown rice, immature grain, colored grain, dead rice, and barrel crack. These determination results are displayed on the display section described later, and are sorted and sorted by a fixed number of measured grains (for example, 1000 grains), supplied to the first sample packaging means 9, and packaged. The sample wrapping is provided so that the roll film 10 can be drawn out into the grain discharge part after the quality measurement, and is welded along the opposite edges while forming the left and right folds, and the above-mentioned good brown rice, immature grain, coloring grain,
It has a configuration in which each group of dead rice and barrel crack can be welded and classified, and can be supplied to the starting end side of the discharge conveyor 11 by separating each unit with the total number of grains of 3 × 1000.

Further, the internal quality measuring means 6 is constructed so as to be able to analyze the quality characteristic values such as the components and physicochemical characteristics of unmilled brown rice or the taste by the near infrared spectroscopic analysis method. The spectroscopic device main body 12 and the detection unit 13 are provided. The detection unit 13 is provided with a sample cell 14 containing a grain sample to be analyzed so as to move up and down, and ascends to receive the sample in the hopper 15 '. During the descent, it stands by at an appropriate position and is subjected to spectral analysis by irradiation with near infrared rays. In the detection unit 13, one or both of a transmitted light detector for detecting transmitted light of the sample and a reflected light detector for detecting reflected light are mounted. When the sample cell 14 is lowered to the lowest position, the lower opening / closing plate 14a is automatically opened so that the contained sample can be discharged downward. Further, the main body 12 of the spectroscopic device includes a light source 15 and a reflecting mirror 1.
6, a diffraction grating 17, a motor 18 for driving the diffraction grating 17, and the like. Upon receiving the absorbance signal of the transmitted light or the reflected light, the control unit 19 obtains the protein content, the components such as amylose, and the quality characteristic values such as the stickiness and the taste value based on the calibration curve created in advance and stored in the storage unit 20. And so on. The protein content and the like of the measurement sample obtained by the control unit 19 is displayed on the display 21 composed of a liquid crystal display or the like. The spectroscopic unit of the near-infrared spectroscopic analysis device is not limited to the diffraction grating, but may be a fixed filter, a tilted filter, or a semiconductor laser.

Further, the whitening means 7 comprises a whitening roll 7a,
The brown rice that is fed out in a fixed amount from the feeding valve 4c is configured to be subjected to a whitening treatment with a constant whitening pressure.
The internal quality measuring device 6 can be supplied to the hopper 15 of the internal quality measuring device 6. Therefore, the internal quality measuring device 6 is configured to be able to measure the content and the like by the component analysis under the brown rice condition in addition to the component analysis under the brown rice condition.

The sample cell 14 has a feeding valve 4b.
It is assumed that a certain volume of brown rice is introduced by a predetermined rotation of the above, and that the near-infrared spectroscopic analysis is performed as it is, and then the discharge opening / closing valve 14a is opened and the above-mentioned certain volume of the sample of the measuring mechanism 23 configured by a load cell or the like. It is configured to supply and discharge to the weighing hopper 24. That is, the control unit 25 can calculate the volumetric weight of brown rice based on the combination of the weighing signal from the weighing hopper 24 and the volume signal from the feeding valve 4b, and these constitute the volume weight measuring means 26.

The weighing hopper 24 of the above-mentioned volumetric weight measuring means 26 is so constructed as to be able to receive the white rice put in the sample cell 14. The volume of white rice is the same as that of the transportation means 2
This is due to the volume measuring means 27 provided in the middle of the path of No. 2, and as the volume measuring means 27, the delivery valve 4 is used.
It is configured as a b-shaped delivery valve. 27 'is a surplus grain discharge flow path. The control unit 25 uses the volume measuring means 2
The volume weight of white rice can be calculated from the volume signal and the weighing signal from 7 and displayed on the display unit 21.

The brown rice and the white rice whose volume weights have been measured are supplied to the second sample packaging means 28. The second sample wrapping means 28 has the same form as the first wrapping means, and although the details are omitted, the brown rice and the white rice can be continuously wrapped. Next, a predetermined grain number weight measuring means 29
For example, a thousand-grain weight measuring means is used, and this means is the 30 pieces packed by the first sample packing means 9.
The 00 sample bag 30 is weighed by the weighing means 31 during the transfer of the discharge conveyor 11, and the weighing signal is sent to the control unit 25.
And then tare it appropriately to 1000
It is calculated in terms of grain weight. Reference numeral 32 denotes a final conveyor, which is configured so that the same sample can be housed and stored in a sample storage box 35 that stands by downward in synchronization with the conveyor 34 for the sample bag 33 discharged from the second sample packaging means 28. The sample bags 30, 33 and the like can be simultaneously packed with a slip (not shown) in which the person to be inspected, the product type, the date, etc. are printed out.

By the way, in the hopper 15 ', the funnel portion is constituted by the double plates 40 and 41, the inner side is constituted by the air permeable material, and the conduit 42 is connected to the space between these to act the cooling fan 43. The outside air forced by the hopper 15 '
It is a structure that can be supplied inside. In addition, it may be a form in which the outside air is adjusted and the temperature is appropriately lowered to be supplied. Reference numeral 44 is an outside air temperature sensor.

The control unit 19 receives the detection signal from the outside air temperature sensor 44, and also inputs the calculation result of the calibration curve for estimating the temperature of the sample during the spectroscopic analysis, and the sample by the injection of the sample during the measurement is input. The presence or absence of dew condensation on the glass portion of the cell 14 is predicted, and when dew condensation is predicted, a drive signal is commanded to the cooling fan 43, and the hopper 15 'is also included.
By controlling the closing time of the shutter 45 configured as described above, the sample is kept at a predetermined temperature or below at which dew condensation can be avoided.

The operation of the above example will be described. When the brown rice sample to be inspected is put into the hopper 1, the distribution device 2 distributes the brown rice into approximately three equal parts. Among them, brown rice from the temporary storage tank 3a is fed to the rotary disk 5a of the appearance quality measuring means 5 while being fed by the feeding valve 4a by a predetermined grain, and the appearance is detected by the optical detecting means while being scraped up for each grain. With that information, the control unit 8 controls the good brown rice, immature grain,
Judge whether it is a colored grain, dead rice, or cracked body.
The measurement of 1000 grains is performed three times for convenience, and 3000 grains are measured, and the discharging means is operated to discharge each of them toward a predetermined sorting and discharging position (not shown). At the same time, the ratio of each grain to the total number of grains is calculated and stored in the storage unit.

Meanwhile, sample A from the temporary storage tank 3b
Secures a predetermined delivery capacity with the delivery valve 4b and puts it into the rising sample cell 14. When the sample cell 14 descends and reaches a predetermined position, near infrared spectroscopic analysis is performed. For example,
The taste value, protein content, water content, etc. of brown rice sample A are calculated based on a preset calibration curve,
These are also stored in the storage unit.

The sample supplied to the whitening means 7 is whitened under standard whitening pressure. Since the processes of the appearance quality measuring unit 5, the internal quality measuring unit 6, and the whitening unit 7 are performed in parallel, a plurality of determination processes for the same sample and the succession to the next process are quick. The brown rice samples sorted by the appearance quality measuring unit 5 are packed in the first sample packaging unit 9, respectively, separated by the unit of the sample A, and transferred to the conveyor 11. After that, the weight is measured by the weighing unit 31, and the predetermined number of particles (thousands) can be measured.

The brown rice sample A measured by the inner part position measuring means 6 reaches the lowermost position by the descending of the sample cell 14 after the measurement, and the opening / closing plate 14a is automatically discharged here to measure the volumetric weight of the sample 26. Weighing hopper 2
4 The control unit 25 calculates and stores the volumetric weight of brown rice based on the weighing signal and the volume signal obtained by the previous rotation of the feeding valve 4b.

While the brown rice sample A is being supplied to the weighing hopper 24, the volume of the white rice from the whitening means 7 is measured by the feeding valve 27 in the middle of the conveying means 22 and the volume of the polished rice is put into the sample cell 14. Near-infrared analysis is performed on white rice, and in this case, for example, the same taste value, protein content, or water content as that of brown rice is to be measured. In addition, the sample temperature is measured using a calibration curve for measuring the product temperature.

Based on the detection signal of the outside air temperature sensor 44 and the sample temperature information, the control unit 19 detects the glass portion of the sample cell 14 by inserting the sample during the measurement from the saturated air diagram or the like which is preset and stored. Predict the presence of condensation. When dew condensation is predicted, a drive signal is issued to the cooling fan 43, and the closing time of the shutter 45 included in the hopper 15 ′ is also managed to cool the sample to a predetermined temperature at which dew condensation can be avoided. . At this time, when it takes time to avoid dew condensation, it is advisable to add an outside air cooling device to reduce the temperature for a short period of time while simply interlocking with the outside air ventilation device. In the above-mentioned embodiment, by using a known air conveying device as the polished rice conveying means 22, it is convenient to temporarily cool the sample whose temperature was raised during the rice polishing treatment during the conveyance.

The volume weight of the white rice sample is also calculated and stored. The brown rice and white rice samples whose volume weights have been measured are supplied to the second sample packaging means 28, continuously packed into bags, and conveyed by the conveyor 34 to a predetermined discharge position. Sample A is the brown rice inspection standard based on the ratio of good brown rice confirmed by the appearance quality measuring means 5, the ratio of colored grains, the volumetric weight of brown rice measured by the volume weight measuring means 26, and the 1000 grain weight obtained by the predetermined grain number weight measuring means 29. It is possible to determine whether the quality is applicable. According to the internal quality measuring means 6, it is possible to obtain a moisture value, a taste value, etc. as reference information.

Further, not only the above-mentioned brown rice sample state but also various data under a white rice state can be obtained, and the quality and quality state in a state close to rice cooking can be obtained. The figure shows another structure for preventing dew condensation, in which the temperature of the cell glass is raised and the temperature difference with the grain is relatively reduced to prevent dew condensation.
The air heated by the heater 50 is configured to be supplied by the blower fan 51 to the space inside the detection unit 13 of the inner part position measuring means 6, and the hot air circulates around the sample cell 14 to detect the temperature of the glass surface. It is intended to rise (Fig. 3 (a)). Further, the glass of the sample cell may be constructed so that it can be directly heated (Fig. (B)). 52 is a heater. The heaters 50 and 52 and the blower fan 51 are turned on and off based on the detection input from the outside air temperature sensor 44.
This is a configuration in which driving and the like are controlled.

In the above embodiment, the heat generation of the rice grain sample by the rice polishing machine has been described. However, in the case of rice grains, it is necessary when pretreatment is performed with a drying device, a hulling device, a rice washing device, a crushing device, etc. Even in the case, the same processing can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an outline of a measuring device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Hopper, 2 ... Distributor, 3a, 3b, 3c ... Temporary storage tank, 4a, 4b, 4c ... Delivery valve, 5 ... Appearance quality measuring means, 6 ... Internal quality measuring means, 7 ... Whitening means, 8 ... Control Parts, 9 ... (first) sample packaging means, 10 ... roll film, 11 ... discharge conveyor, 12 ... spectroscopic analyzer main body, 13 ... detection unit unit, 14 ... sample cell, 1
5 '... Hopper, 15 ... Light source, 16 ... Reflecting mirror, 17 ... Diffraction grating, 18 ... Motor, 19 ... Control unit, 20 ... Storage unit, 2
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Indicator, 22 ... Conveying means, 23 ... Measuring mechanism, 24 ...
Weighing hopper, 26 ... Volume weight measuring means, 27 ... Volume measuring means, 28 ... (Second) sample packaging means, 29 ... Predetermined grain number weight measuring means (thousand grain weight measuring means), 30 ... Sample bag, 31 ... Weighing Means, 32 ... Final conveyor, 33 ... Sample bag, 34 ... Conveyor, 35 ... Sample storage box, 4
0, 41 ... Funnel plate, 42 ... Conduit, 43 ... Cooling fan, 4
4 ... Outside air temperature sensor, 45 ... Shutter, 50 ... Heater,
51 ... Blower fan, 52 ... Heater

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cooling means for cooling a sample to be put into a sample cell in a method of irradiating a sample with near-infrared light from a light source and measuring the chemical component value and the physical characteristic value of the sample from the absorbance of the light amount. A near-infrared analyzer provided with. 2. The near infrared spectroscopic analyzer according to claim 1, further comprising means for measuring or estimating the temperature of the sample before or during the measurement of the sample, and cooling the sample so that the temperature of the sample becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. . 3. A method of irradiating a sample with near-infrared light from a light source and measuring the chemical component value or physical characteristic value of the sample from the absorbance of the amount of light, wherein the temperature of the entire near-infrared analyzer or the vicinity of the sample cell A near-infrared analyzer provided with heating air supply means so that the temperature becomes higher than the outside air temperature. 4. A method of irradiating a sample with near-infrared light from a light source and measuring the chemical component value or physical characteristic value of the sample from the absorbance of the light amount, heating so that the sample cell temperature is higher than the outside air temperature. A near-infrared analyzer provided with means.